Interest in policy, think tanks, Caucasus, dogs, ethics. Teach at Ilia State University.https://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mwyomiu6bs2qWindsurfing into the sun today. Posting also because I was mostly alone on Tbilisi Sea today -- if you live here and are interested in water sports, on a good day it's truly fabulous. Definitely worth trying.03 Oct 2026 20:03 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwyomiu6bs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mwj6avzeos2dToday's city run in Tbilisi, here short tribute to some of fabulous Tbilisi street dogs that decided to run with us. As you can see, some really made an effort! (Dogs & I happy with 10k, solid contingent ofrunners did the half marathon.) At end they chilled and snagged sandwiches, too.27 Sep 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwj6avzeos2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mwftu56qik2ganother searing account of how women who get drafted into surrogacy in #Georgia can end up totally exploited. Rayhan Demytrie follows this topic on her Substack, well worth following. https://rayhandemytrie.substack.com/p/a-kazakh-surrogate-went-into-septic?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1dennhb7kgv0m&fbclid=IwY2xjawUjX5VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMTlRZ1NxSWxPcWs0UzczbzFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe-1WGiJG0Buu9AKfu6kkWuGOYGm6pFUbhx3cYWt2FwKeWE8Qpj_GBbSpjPUY_aem_hjtZep_TX8v3S9bi9-KBKA26 Sep 2026 08:16 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwftu56qik2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mwe4wrzwkc2vTbilisi LitFest right now, historian/writers Adam Zamoyski and Dimitris Dimitriadis on authoritarianism and collective memory. Truly cosmopolitan event in French and Georgian (& English also).25 Sep 2026 15:53 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwe4wrzwkc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mwdzows7jk2y#FreeBahruz -- good people should not be locked up on flimsy pretexts. @smdov.bsky.social @molenasreddin.bsky.social [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Sep 2026 14:55 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwdzows7jk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mwbzwxt6ic27Remarkable. [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Sep 2026 19:55 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwbzwxt6ic27https://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mw6ycgu54c2lOne of these judges, G Kikilashvili, gained notoriety for critically misrepresenting his professional record in scholarship application only just last year. In any functional context, would disqualify him. For the Georgian Dream, it seems only to have underlined his suitability for Const Court. [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Sep 2026 14:47 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw6ycgu54c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mw25a3r3es2sa few months ago, talked to a whistleblowers who fled Georgia, and he said: "if I was back there, they'd plant drugs on me and sentence me to years in jail." Here is a whistleblower, sentenced to 17 years (!!) in jail. Make of that what you will. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Sep 2026 16:32 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw25a3r3es2shttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mw246qztas2jI kind of know and then *still* forget to check the pressure in my tires. For weeks have been traveling with less than half (!!) minimum recommended pressure (2-4 bar). I guess this is "doing the work" also.21 Sep 2026 16:13 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw246qztas2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mvx3cs5pv224Looks like a really interesting play with resonant themes. [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 Sep 2026 11:20 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvx3cs5pv224https://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mvbizv2cac2zyes, many incumbent oppo parties in Georgia are pretty stuck, between repression & own issues. But then there also, less visible, some people push hard, advocate on issues, keep talking to people -- & raise own support on ground, too. Teona Chalidze has https://batumelebi.netgazeti.ge/articles-in-english/637039/11 Sep 2026 21:27 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvbizv2cac2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mv5tm74eds2qyou could say that a second Battle of Krtsanisi is about to form, and this time it looks like the loser will be the Georgian Dream. The resistance against Eagle Hills is so wide across the political spectrum, it is hard to see how they can sustain the project. Look at the Likes/Shares.10 Sep 2026 10:25 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv5tm74eds2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mv5px3ofds26reupping this, next week at De Balie in #Amsterdam on #Georgia, with @yoerialbrecht.bsky.social and on how we can win the fight against the totalitarian challenge. Share if you know anyone who might be interested! https://debalie.nl/programma/georgia-on-the-brink-of-oligarchy-16-09-2026/10 Sep 2026 09:20 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv5px3ofds26https://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3muqtjvbqmk2bImpressions from the building works on Rustaveli -- including archaeological excavation!!!05 Sep 2026 06:19 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3muqtjvbqmk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3muhm7eiklc2hGeorgian word of the day -- ცოდნა ძალაა / tsodna dzalaa, knowledge is power, giving you two key words in a memorable phrase. Gemini illustration doing a good job. (And here an all-time classic on how "Francis Bacon" led to years of misunderstandings: https://thehabit.co/knowledge-is-power-france-is-bacon/ )01 Sep 2026 14:14 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3muhm7eiklc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mufssr35xk2qTbilisi city center is *extra* worth seeing these days, in a particular way. Those sights your rarely see. Watch this aerial waltz, sound on, sent by a friend, for a memorable glide over city landmarks you'll recognize.31 Aug 2026 21:07 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufssr35xk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mue4wuqtec2hThis was entirely new to me, and fun reading and watching. [contains quote post or other embedded content]31 Aug 2026 05:03 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mue4wuqtec2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mtysxoeh6k24meters not as in Kilometers, but as in "electricity". The headline had me stumped and also draws you into reading this great tale by Giorgi Lomsadze of what goes wrong when scarce goods are free. https://tamadatales.substack.com/p/meters-to-kill-mountain-crypto26 Aug 2026 17:05 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtysxoeh6k24https://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mtxp4pg6rk2aI'm not in the everything needs to be preserved be brigade but was shocked to see they're tearing down the iconic building on Rustaveli opposite the Blue Gallery// Marriott.26 Aug 2026 06:24 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtxp4pg6rk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mtvkxyvb7c2u“a proper university only needs three things: curious people; a library; and a cafeteria. Everything else is imposed by society.” There is more to this idea by Michael Oakeshott than at first may meet the eye. My piece for @globalpolicy.bsky.social https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/25/08/2026/living-science-not-it-adapting-scholarship-tumultuous-times25 Aug 2026 10:04 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtvkxyvb7c2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mtrlfp6xwk2iRandom post to remember @smdov.bsky.social, in jail. There are many opposition people across the world in exile or jail. Among the bravest on the planet are those in Azerbaijan - with little immediate chance to win; standing against ruler who just won a war; w little international attention.23 Aug 2026 20:01 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtrlfp6xwk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mtqje6bcf223a lot has been written on #Cofnas & academic freedom. Some of debate gets heated, most recently with @patricksturg.bsky.social and @jdportes.bsky.social es.bsky.social. In my mind, some of this debate can be ordered and perhaps -- ambitious -- be resolved. Bear with me 🧵 https://bsky.app/profile/jdportes.bsky.social/post/3mtp5lgkosc2p [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Aug 2026 09:52 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtqje6bcf223https://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mth6qst7ck2xGD promised that higher education would be free. Instead, it turns out that students will be subject to potentially arbitrary decisions. #Georgia https://ganatleba.substack.com/p/free-but-conditional-the-catch-behind?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=7yu5919 Aug 2026 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mth6qst7ck2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mtghxrqlss2tpetition circulating in #Georgia calling for cancellation of Eagle Hills development in Krtsanisi Forest — site of 1795 battle. Organizers gathering at forest on September 12 to mark battle's 231st anniversary. politics.https://unaccountedfor.substack.com/p/cancel-the-agreement-with-eagle-hills19 Aug 2026 10:01 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtghxrqlss2thttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mt7ks5n77c2ewill watch this film on Thomas Mann's return to Germany post-1945 shortly. Very curious. Great fan of Hanns Zischler. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatherland_(2026_film)16 Aug 2026 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt7ks5n77c2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/hansgutbrod.bsky.social/post/3mt77vbhlxs2iAlways incredibly rewarding, flying together in the evening sun. #paragliding #allgaeu16 Aug 2026 12:47 +0000at://did:plc:poou3phxtmrc3tirioththdo/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt77vbhlxs2i